Community Hopes For New Trails Between Hingham Parks

East Weymouth resident John Childs often walks his four rescue dogs at Bare Cove Parks, and typically enjoys a run or bike ride along the Back River.

The Weymouth resident was just one of the many local residents who were n support of the idea to construct a new trail that would connect the Hingham park with Stodder’s Neck, Great Esker Park, Abigail Adams Park.

“It would be a lot easier to walk the dogs with these trails,” Childs said.  “ We could also create road races, charity ecent and it would be something that could be enjoyed by everyone.”

State Representative James M. Murphy, who represents Weymouth and Precinct 2 in Hingham, has been a big advocate for the new trails. On Tuesday morning, the State Rep. brought state officials on a boat ride down the Back River to show them the beauty of the park up close.

Murphy was already able secure $250,000 for a design of a waterfront trail system and is now looking for funds to construct one. 

“We have four beautiful parks, but they’re separate from each other,” Murphy said.  “So the goal is to connect the four parks so people can walk from one to the next.” 

Rick Corsi, a member of the Department of Conservation and Recreation has been in charge of the designing process and said the cost of the new trails would cost anywhere from $1.5- $2 Million and would take 12-18 months to construct.

Corsi said the trails would not cross the river, but would go under the Back River Bridge to connect the parks which excited the many people who were on the river tour.

Katrina Bergman, the Executive Director of the New England Wildlife Center in Weymouth, said the trails can only help the community.

“The trails would get more people outside and more people connected to their surroundings,” she said.” It would make people more informed about the wildlife… and people will eventually only protect what they know.”

The idea of the trails was favored by most but Linda DiAngelo, president of the Back River Water Association said she hopes that the river will not be polluted if more people are walking along it. 

“The land here needs to preserved.. people will need to comply with the wetlands act, ” DiAngelo said. 

The four parks along the Back River do not currently have a trail connection and to get from one park to another you must drive or cross route 3A.

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